As an exercise in winning friends and influencing people, Amjad Khan has had better days. First, the Kent opening bowler failed to bounce Murali Kartik into submission only to provoke the Indian spinner into yet another five-for with the ball. Then a duck from four balls followed and today it was revealed that Khan has been talking to the opposition about joining them next season.

According to Somerset's director of cricket, Brian Rose: "Discussions have taken place but at the moment are on hold." A note to that effect appeared on the club website at the close of play in an attempt to quieten the rumour mill.

However, of more immediate interest was Kartik's response to the first ball faced from Khan, which ricocheted off the spinner's new Somerset helmet and down to the third man boundary. The next delivery whistled through the covers, but it was not until Kent batted that Kartik took full revenge.

Eighteen overs into the Kent innings, with the score on 75 for one, Kartik was introduced into the attack, taking a wicket with his fifth delivery. Fourteen overs later, Kent were in tatters, all out for 172 and Kartik had taken five for 50 – his fourth five-for in successive innings.

If the first wicket, that of Geraint Jones, came from a slightly fortuitous caught and bowled – the former England wicketkeeper mistimed a gentle full toss – the remaining four were secured by remarkable control of flight and spin. But for some sloppy fielding it would have been six – as a value-for-money signing, Kartik is looking priceless.

In seven championship innings he has taken 26 wickets, helping his new county to three consecutive wins and – weather permitting – making a fourth likely. He turned the ball past Joe Denly's defensive push, Alex Blake and James Tredwell both found short leg and, after a bit of violence, Matthew Coles was undone by a nippy arm ball.

By the close, the lead had been stretched from 33 to 161 and Marcus Trescothick was past 50, the first half century of the match.